Electric push-button.



H0 MODEL.-

PATENTED JUNE 9 1903.

v A. W. PLASSMANN. ELECTRIC PUSH BUTTON.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1902.

NITED STATES Patented June 9, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST W. PLASSMANN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO RICHMOND ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRiC PUSH-BUTTON.

SEECIFICATION forming-part of Letters lF'atent No. 730,567, dated June 9 1903.

- Application filed January 29,1902. Seria1No.91,6B8. on; modeLl is substantially flush with the surface of the body in which it is set.

The object of this invention is to provide a push-button of this character which shall be 5 simple and cheap to construct, which shall aiford good contact at all times, and protect the contacts from dust and moisture.

The invention consists ofthe construction and combinations hereinafter fully described I and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, a face View of the improved button. is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 isa view of the back of the button. tral section of the casing containing the con- Figure 1 is tacts and button, showing the mounting of 1 the binding-screws in side elevation, and,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the insulating block or frame to which the contact and connecting portions are attached.

The binding-screws and contacts are permanently attached to a block of insulating material consisting of a disk-like portion a, and an oblong projection 12, preferably in one piece with the disk, this part being constructed either of hard rubber, fiber, or any other suitable non-conducting material. The binding devices for the line-wires are connected to the part b by meansof the two bolts 0 and a passing laterally through said projection, the head of one boltbeing on one side of the projection, -while the head of the other is on the Fig. 2

Fig. 4. is a cendisposed with respect to each other and are concentric and of the same diameter, so that when a downward pressure is exerted against them they will be brought into contact throughout nearly their entire length. If desired, the spirals lnight'be elongated into two or more convolutions, alternating with each other in order to obtain large contact surface and great resiliency of the springs. W'ith contacts of this character particles of dust here and there over the contacting surfaces will not interfere with the closing of the circuit, inasmuch as the surfaces are so large that ample connection will always be made to carry the current. This is considered a vast improvement over all forms of contacts where only the ends of the spring-pieces come together.

e is a cylindrical shell into the bottom of with a curved outwardly-turned flange e furnishing an ornamental finish for the button and preventing its being forced too far into the socket or cavity in which it is placed. This cylinder-is also provided with integral spring-tongues a which furnish frictional connection between the cylinder and the wall of the cavityin which it is confined and preventing its being removed therefrom without exercising considerable force. Inside of the cylinder 6 is a second cylinder or shell f of such diameter as to fit friction-tight within the cylinder 9. Itsinner edge restsupon the rim of disk at andconfines that member in place. wardly-turned flange f, between which and the. outer terminals of the spiral contacts is located a button g, of ivory, rubber, or other similar material, normally held outward Its outer edge is provided with an in- I adapted to be forced inward by pressure of the thumb or finger to cause the spirals d and d to make contact with each other. This inner shell ffurnishes a dust-proof casing for the contacts, since it excludes dust that might otherwise enter through the openings caused by the springs e The inwardlyturned fiangef also furnishes a second ornamental finish for the front of the button.

The merits of this button are its cheapness of construction, the ease with which the line-wires may be attached thereto and the separation thereof, protection for the contacts, elongated contacting surface, and pleasing appearance.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of two electric terminals, consisting of concentric spiral springs whose convolutions alternate with each other and are normally out of contact, and means for forcing the convolutions into contact.

2. A pair of electrical contacts consisting of two spiral springs, arranged with their convolutions alternating with each other, and

means for forcing the convolutions into and as described.

3. A push-button consisting ofa cylindrical Q shell, a non-conducting disk closing the rear end of the shell, and having a rearward non-.

conducting projection, contact-strips secured to said rearward projection extendingthrough said disk and arranged opposite each other on the inside of said disk, and a button in the shell, substantially as described.

4. Apush-buttonconsistingofacylindrical shell, a disk of insulating material closing one end and to which the electrical contacts are fixed, a second cylindrical shell fitting into the first and a button confined in the second shell, substantially as described.

5. Apush-button consisting of acylindrical shell, having integral spring-tongues adapted to hold it in place, a disk of insulating material closing one end and to which the electrical contacts are fixed, a second cylindrical shell fitting into the first and a button confined in the second shell, substantially as described.

6. In a circuit-closer, a plate of insulating material, having a projection of similar material, from one face, two metallic strips secured to the opposite faces of said projection and leading through the plate to its opposite side where they are disposed opposite each other, for the purpose set forth.

7. A push-button consisting of a cylindrical shell adapted to fit into an opening in a supporting-body and provided with a flange limiting its position in said body, and a second cylindrical shell fitting into the first and inclosing electrical contacts and a button, and having an inwardly-turned flange to retain said button, substantially as described.

8. An electric push-button comprising a suitable thimble or casing, a body of insulating material supported therein, contacts and terminals mounted upon said insulating-body, a contact-controlling button movably mounted in said thimble or casing, and a retaining collar or thimble fitting snugly in said casing and confining the insulating-body and movable button, substantially as set forth.

9. An electric push-button comprising an outer .thimble or casing formed with an inturned base-flange, a body of insulating material supported in said thimble upon said base-flange, contacts and terminals mounted upon said insulating-body, a contact-controlling button movably mounted in said thimble or casing, and a retaining collar or thimble formed with an inner flange and fitting snugly in said outer casing, said retaining collar or thimble engaging the insulating-body for securing it in said casing, and the flange of said retaining collar or thimble engaging said button for confining it, substantially as set forth.

10. Ina push-button, the combination of an insulating-body and suitable electric terminals mounted thereon, with the overlapping spiral-spring contact-arms electrically connected with said terminals and separated from each other, and means adapted to force said contact-arms into engagement at a pinrality of points, substantially as set forth,

11. In an electric push-button, the combination of a suitable body of insulating material, and electric terminals mounted thereon, with the overlapping spiral-spring contactarms formed of sheet metal electrically connected with said terminals and separated from each other, and a movable button adapted to force said contact-arms into engagement at a plurality of points, substantially as set forth.

12. In an electric push-button, the combination of a suitable casing with a body of insulating material mou ntedtherein and formed of approximately T shape in longitudinal section, electrical terminals secured to the stem of said T shaped body, contacts mounted upon the head of said T-shaped body, and electrically connected with said terminals, and an operating-button movably supported in said casing, substantially as set forth.

13. In an electric push-button, the combination of an outer thimble or casing and body of insulating material mounted therein and comprising a plate or web and flanges projecting laterally therefrom at one end to form an insulating-base, electric terminals secured to said plate or web, contacts mounted upon said base and electrically connected with said terminals, and an operating-button movably supported in said casing, substantially as set forth.

14. In an electric push-button, the combination of an outer thimble or casing, having an inturned base-flange, a body of insulating material mounted therein and comprising a plate or web and flanges projecting laterally therefrom at one end to form aninsulatingbase, said base resting upon the inturned baseflange of the casing, electric terminals secured to said plate or web, contacts mounted upon said base and electrically connected with said terminals, and an operating-button movably supported in said casing, substantially as set forth.

15. In an electric push-button, the combination of an outer casing formed with an inturned base-flange, a body of insulating material formed with an approximately circular base or head and a web projecting therefrom, electric terminals secured to said web,c0ntacts mounted upon said base and electrically connected with said terminals, and an operating-button movably supported in said casing, substantially as set forth.

16. In an electric push-button, the combination of an outer thimble or casing formed with an inturned base-flange, a body of insulating material having an approximately cir- AUG. W. PLASSMANN.

Witnesses:

WM. A. RosENBAUM, WALDO M. OHAPIN. 

